DEL NORTE—The High Valley Community Center (HVCC) was pleased to learn that this year they would be receiving a larger amount from a grant that they have been awarded over the past 10 years. Center Director Adrienne Atencio announced the center was awarded a $10,000 Arts and Culture Grant from the Xcel Energy Foundation.
According to Xcel Energy Foundation’s grant description, it states, “Thriving arts and cultural activities are a key component to vibrant and strong communities. With a mission to help create desirable communities in which to live, we support programs that increase the opportunities and accessibility of arts and cultural programs to all. The Xcel Energy Foundation states that, “The foundation overseas all charitable activities and sponsors the volunteer programs of Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries. The foundation board of directors oversees the foundation’s investments. The majority of Xcel Energy Foundation funding comes from Xcel Energy shareholder dollars. In 2015, the foundation distributed nearly $3.8 million in grants to its Focus Areas, and contributed a combined total of just under $14 million for our communities.”
Atencio explained that the center has been awarded the grant in the past and that it has steadily increased over the years. “They increased grant amounts for organizations that have shown hard work and successful programs and they recognized HVCC as one of those programs,” explained Atencio. This year, some of the funds will help pay for the center students to attend a play at the Creede Repertory Theatre and visit the Creede Underground Mining Museum.
Funding from the grant also helps pay for art supplies and community outreach opportunities that they host throughout the year. The center utilizes the money in their teen art program that enables the center’s teen participants to partake in an annual art action every spring. The event is part of a fundraiser that helps raise money for an end of the year trip for the older students in the center. The trip is usually taken to Denver where the teen participants get to visit the Denver Museum of Art and other art based programs.
Atencio continued, explaining that the center will be participating in the Xcel Corporate Giving Program this year and are looking for Xcel employees to come volunteer at the center. The program allows employees of Xcel Energy to donate one 40-hour week to a local non-profit organization and receive pay for the time they use. According to Atencio, the center has wanted to participate in the program for some time, but have not found any employees participating in the area. “High Valley would be a great place for the program. We just need someone to come over and do their volunteer work here,” said Atencio.
Atencio finished by stating that the center will be hosting a community outreach program sometime later in the year to help meet the in-kind requirements of the grant. More information about the event will be available soon. The center is now open 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for the summer. For more information, visit www.highvalleycommunity.org.